I guess an update is long overdue on this one..
It has been an eventful 6 months for the Zed. I got back into riding 6 months or so ago after the health scare of last year and, on paper at least, this should have been the "go to" bike as it was the newest, the comfiest and I hadn't really got to ride it since its purchase.
All started well and, indeed, we did a trackday at Brands Indy in June and the bike acquitted itself well - no, I didn't win Inters - didn't even win Novice
- apart from a gearbox issue. Fourth gear kept playing up. Not good.
It was just out of warranty but had just under 2500 miles on the clock by now so Kawasaki did the honourable thing and fixed it foc - parts and labour covered by them. Full credit to Greenham Kawasaki and their head tech for going into bat on my behalf. Thanks guys.
By the end of the following month all was well, I'd put another 500 miles on it and it went in for its service - all good and the gearbox is probably better than it has ever been. Notwithstanding that, I took up the offer to extend the warranty for two years - same terms as the new bike warranty - for just over £300 which gives me peace of mind.
Once I was happy with everything and after a quick chat with
@weeksy I booked onto the Pembrey RTTL trackday and the Zed, again, made a track appearance.
I rode down the 175 miles on the Thursday afternoon and all was good, apart from the traffic and the weather. The bike was fine and did the journey without a fuel stop too. Result.
Trackdays, on the Friday and the Saturday, as recounted by others more eloquent elsewhere, were great fun. I probably pushed harder than I used to but never felt I was overstepping the mark and had no "moments" either.
@Couchy was probably right
I didn't win Inters but with
@Tricky and
@singlesman there was no chance of that anyways
We made our way back via the Gower, having lunch with my son and his family who were on holiday at the time.
All in all, then, you would think I'd found my perfect bike...
But no, not really, it just lacks a certain something - it's just too efficient, I suppose. I could have ridden it many times over the past couple of weeks since returning from Wales but I've ridden other bikes....I haven't even washed it since then
Take today for example, popped in to see Mum n Dad in Reading, only 15 or 20 miles each way, it was spitting with rain so I wouldn't be getting a clean bike dirty. Perfect, and it would give it a run out.
Nope, I took the Tuono, got absolutely drenched (didn't bother with waterproofs) when the heavens opened five miles down the road and then again on the way home.
And, as soon as the rain stopped, I washed the Tuono. Go figure, eh?
Still that's enough for now - I was going to wash the Zed too, honest, but, just as I'd removed the Phil Bevan stickers from the fairing, it started pissing with rain again.
Another day........
Kev
...............10 days isn't hasty, is it?